Gord Downie, Tragically Hip singer, has terminal cancer

[Saviolo]

From the CBC Article:

Gord Downie, the lead singer and lyricist of the iconic Canadian rock band the Tragically Hip, announced this morning he has terminal brain cancer, but still plans to join his bandmates of more than 30 years for a summer tour.

The band posted the news of Downie's illness on its website this morning and their band manager will release more details at a press conference at Sunnybrook Hospital at 11 a.m.

Despite the diagnosis, The Hip announced it will "dig deep" and hit the road together this summer. The details of that tour should be released later this week, according to the band.

"This feels like the right thing to do now, for Gord, and for all of us," group members said in their statement. "What we in The Hip receive, each time we play together, is a connection; with each other; with music and it's magic; and during the shows, a special connection with all of you, our incredible fans."

The Tragically Hip's frontman has long established himself as one of the country's greatest songwriters, his lyrics giving a voice to Canada's land, its history and, at times, its official winter sport.

Full article here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gord-downie-cancer-1.3596839

The Tragically Hip has been part of the Canadian landscape for so long. They were a really integral part of my musical upbringing in the 90's. I was first really introduced to them with Fully Completely, and then I back-bought all the way back to the self-titled album. Day for Night probably remains my favourite album, and Grace, Too always catches me. I've seen them live a handful of times, including the original Another Roadside Attraction tour when it came through Ottawa. They were playing with Hothouse Flowers, Crash Vegas, Daniel Lanois, and Midnight Oil.

They were always like the biggest bar band in Canada. The one that everyone knew, and could sing along with. So many stories in Gord's lyrics. Nothing evokes a dive bar in a small working-class town that on the outs like "Trickle Down." They wrote a song about a hockey player that had been dead for 40 years and made it a huge hit.

Canada will be a little emptier without The Hip in it.

If I die of vanity, promise me
Promise me if they bury me someplace I don't wanna be
You'll dig me up and transport me
Unceremoniously away from
The swollen city breeze
Garbage bag trees
Whispers of disease and
Acts of enormity
And lower me slowly and sadly and properly
Get Ry Cooder to sing my Eulogy!

-from "At The Hundredth Meridian" from Fully Completely

(edited to include link to the CBC article)

[8 track mind]

1. The Tragically Hip

[laundry_queen]

2. Just so sad

Brings bad vivid memories of one guy in my high school...the one guy who was the lead in all our drama productions...who could do a perfect Gord Downie in the video "Courage". We'd blast that song at bush parties and get our friend to perform for us. Bush parties and the Hip - such a huge part of my Canadian high school experience.

[inanna]

3. No!

No, no, no!

[inanna]

4. Thousands across the country sign petition calling for Gord Downie to receive Order of Canada

05.26.2016

Canadians are rushing to sign an online petition calling on the government to honour Gord Downie, lead singer of The Tragically Hip, with the Order of Canada.

The petition was launched shortly after news broke that Downie had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. The band released a statement on their website with the news earlier this week, shocking music fans from coast to coast to coast.

The petition was created by Central Ontario Broadcasting, "a locally owned and operated company comprising of Indie88 Toronto, Rock 95 and 1075 KoolFM in Barrie." More than 33,000 people had signed it by Friday afternoon.

The Order of Canada recognizes "outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. Their contributions are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country."

Link: http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/thousands+across+country+sign+petition+calling+gord+downie/11947629/story.html

[Saviolo]

5. Additionally: BBC Names The Hip the most Canadian band in the world

And does it pretty eloquently, given that The Hip never really made any splash across the pond:

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-36399891

Found via Alan Cross on Twitter.

[inanna]

6. What an awesome article!

Somehow I missed it, even though I've been scouring the interwebz for more on this story.

Thanks.

[Saviolo]

7. If you're on Twitter

I do recommend following Alan Cross. If you can get past the occasional double post, he really does have his finger on the pulse of a lot of musical news.

And he's Canadian, so you know he's going to cover Canadian stuff.

But yeah, that was really a touching article from the BBC. I like that the tone isn't condescending (foreign articles on any nation-specific fandom often are, I find), and it looks like they really did a little research into how The Hip is woven into Canadian culture.